A BARRISTER representing a man accused of assault and knife offences in Limerick yesterday (Friday February 9) told a court today that, following comments about the case on social media, he wanted safety measures put in place at Limerick Prison for the accused while he is being held there on remand.
Chinonso Igboanusi (28), of no fixed abode, appeared before Nenagh District Court today (Saturday), charged with two counts of possession of a knife, in which he was allegedly observed exposing the knife in public places, and one count of assault of a female.
All the charges relate to three separate alleged incidents in Limerick City and the Corbally area, just outside the city.
Garda Brian Kelly, Mayorstone Garda Station, gave evidence of arresting Mr Igboanusi at Lidl shopping Centre, Westbury, Corbally, on Friday afternoon.
During a contested bail hearing, Garda Kelly said Gardaí believed that if Mr Igboanusi got bail he would commit “serious offences, including possession of knives and assault”.
Garda Kelly alleged Mr Igboanusi had acted “extremely erratically” and in an “extremely dangerous” manner on Friday.
He alleged that Mr Igboanusi was seen with a “red Swiss army knife” at Colbert Rail and Bus Station in Limerick City around 11am on Friday.
Half an hour later, at 11.30am, Mr Igboanusi allegedly approached a female from behind and “kicked her into her back” as she and a friend were walking along Athlunkard Street, near Corbally, Garda Kelly told the court.
Garda Kelly said the female suffered a minor hand injury when she fell to the ground, following what he indicated to the court had been an unprovoked assault.
Mr Igoanusi interrupted Garda Kelly and claimed: “She provoked me, that’s what she did.”
Garda Kelly said that, at approximately 12.20pm on the day, Gardaí received a telephone call that a man, who Garda Kelly told the court matched Mr Igboanusi’s description, was “wearing a balaclava … and openly showing a silver Stanley knife and walking towards the Shannon Banks area of Corbally”.
Garda Kelly said that when Gardaí arrived on the scene, a male wearing a backpack on his back “ran from Gardaí” and entered a Lidl supermarket in Westbury, Corbally.
Garda Kelly said when he arrested Mr Igboanusi in the shop, he in possession of a “red Swiss army knife“ as well as a “black ski-mask”.
Garda Kelly said Mr Igboanusi’s was wearing clothing that matched the clothing of the man reportedly seen with a knife in Colbert Station and the man who allegedly assaulted the female on Athlunkard Street in Limerick City earlier that morning.
He said that during Garda interviews after his arrest, Mr Igoanusi admitted having the knife on him for his “own protection” and for “self defence”.
The court heard Mr Igboanusi did not reply when he was charged with the three offences at Henry Street Garda Station on Friday night.
Mr Igboanusi’s barrister, Liam Carroll BL, said the accused would consent to any bail conditions the court might impose.
Garda Kelly said that Gardaí would “not be satisfied with this”, adding that Gardaí do not believe he will abide by any bail conditions”.
Garda Kelly agreed with Mr Carroll that anyone facing charges before the criminal courts “enjoys the presumption of innocence”.
Mr Carroll said his instructions were that Mr Igoanusi “is an Irish citizen, and he speaks with a Dublin brogue”.
In sworn evidence, Mr Igoanusi told the bail hearing: “They have accused me of something I didn’t do.”
Mr Igoanusi claimed that, on the morning in question, staff at Colbert Station told him he could not use a travel card he had in his possession, which he wanted to use to travel to Heuston Station, Dublin, and that he was dragged away by staff.
Mr Igoanusi said Gardaí would see what had happened at the station if they “check the surveillance cameras”.
Mr Igoanusi told the court that he and members of his family live in Cork City.
Judge Elizabeth MacGrath said she noted the Garda objection to bail in that they were concerned the accused would “fail to appear” in court to face the charges, and their evidence “of the likelihood of the accused committing serious offences if granted bail”.
Judge MacGrath said her main concern was “the latter”.
“The concern here is an open knife was allegedly on display and (the accused) says there is an explanation on (CCTV) camera.”
Mr Carroll told the court the allegations against the accused were “subject of some commentary on social media” and he asked that “precautions be taken by the governor of Limerick Prison regarding my client’s safety”.
Judge MacGrath said this was a matter for the Gardaí to follow up.
Inspector Andrew Lyons, Roscrea, County Tipperary, said Gardaí would pass on Mr Carroll’s request to the prison.
Judge MacGrath said she would “remand in custody” Mr Igoanusi to Limerick Prison to next Tuesday “for further deliberations on the bail application”.
When asked by Mr Carroll if she had refused bail, the judge replied: “I have neither granted or refused bail.”
Judge MacGrath said she was adjourning the matter to Tuesday, February 13, to allow Gardaí review CCTV at Colbert Station and verify if the accused had a family address in Cork.
“That’s as far as I’ll take it for today,” the judge concluded.
Gardaí transferred Mr Igoanusi to Limerick Prison to appear before Limerick District Court on February 13 for a continued bail hearing.
